How Much Does It Cost to Self Publish a Novel?

You’ve done the hard part, written the novel, illustrated the panels, and edited until your eyes hurt. Now comes the bit no one warns you about: figuring out how much it’ll actually cost to get your book into readers’ hands.

Spoiler: there’s no flat fee. Whether it’s a gritty novella or a full-color graphic novel, the price tag depends on dozens of little decisions, paper type, ink quality, binding style, and how many copies you want. It can get overwhelming fast.

Let's break down what really goes into the cost of self-publishing and show you how to get pro-level results at a price that makes sense.

What Goes Into the Cost of Self-Publishing a Novel?

Self-publishing isn’t just a matter of writing “The End” and sending it off to print. Before your book hits shelves (or letterboxes), a few key costs tend to stack up, some obvious, some less so.

Here’s where most of your budget goes:

• Editing & Proofreading: Whether you’re tightening your prose or doing a final grammar sweep, professional editing can range from £300 to £1,000 depending on your manuscript’s length and complexity.
• Cover Design: Even the best-written book needs a cover that makes people stop scrolling. You might spend £100 to £500+, depending on the style and artist.
• Typesetting & Interior Layout: Clean, readable pages matter. Novels are generally straightforward, but if your project is more visual (think poetry collections or illustrated stories), layout can be more involved.
• Marketing: Getting your book seen takes strategy, from social media ads to launch events, with book marketing costs typically ranging from £100 to £1,000+, depending on your goals and reach.

Then comes the actual printing, and that’s where things get more flexible.

Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, you’ll need to think about your book’s trim size, page count, ink choices, and binding style. Some authors start with a short print run of 50 - 100 copies to test the waters; others go in with thousands of copies right away.

Either way, you’ll want a printer that’s used to working with authors and small publishers. Read more on how to evaluate these factors here.

More on actual print costs and where you can save, in the next section.

How Much Does It Cost to Print a Novel? (Hint: It’s Not Just About the Numbers)

If you're hoping for a one-size-fits-all answer, here's the truth: printing costs aren’t that simple, and honestly, that’s a good thing.

There’s a lot that goes into pricing your book properly. Page count, color or black & white, paper stock, binding style, and how many copies you’re printing, every detail affects the final number. And while some printers let you punch in specs and spit out a quote instantly, printing a novel (or a graphic novel) isn’t the same as ordering business cards or tote bags.

You’ve spent months, maybe years, bringing your story to life. Do you really want to leave the final step to guesswork?

That’s why at Ex Why Zed, we don’t advertise set prices on our site. Instead, we start with a conversation. Tell us about your book, what it is, what it means to you, how you imagine it in someone’s hands, and we’ll help you make smart decisions from there. Our goal isn’t just to print your project. It’s to help you get it right.

So, What Do Most People Pay?

We get it, you still want ballpark numbers. Here’s a rough idea:

• A 200-page black & white novel typically costs around £3–£5 per copy when printing in small to mid-sized runs.
• A full-colour, 100-page graphic novel tends to range from £6–£12 per copy, depending on the format and finish.
• The more you print, the lower the per-copy cost, but you can absolutely start with just a handful of copies if you’re testing the waters.

If you’re working with a budget in mind, let’s reverse engineer it. Say you’ve seen novels similar to yours selling for £8, and you’d ideally like to keep your printing cost under £3 per copy. Tell us the specs, maybe A5, 40 pages, and we’ll help you figure out the right quantity or tweak the materials to hit your goal.

But What If Someone Else Is Cheaper?

It happens. There’s always a cheaper quote somewhere. But printing isn’t just about price, it’s about the experience. The quality of the paper. The responsiveness of the team. The confidence that what shows up in the post will match what you pictured in your head.

You’ve probably bought a coffee today that cost more than one down the road, just because you liked the atmosphere or the way they remembered your name. That’s not just convenience, that’s care.

That’s the difference we try to bring to print.

So if you do get a cheaper quote elsewhere, don’t write us off. Let us know. We’ll always do what we can to make it work, because at the end of the day, we’d rather you print with us than not print at all.

Before moving on to the next section, here's another short visual guide of what really goes behind the process for magazines, what determines our pricing, and how we do what we do 🙂

Smart Ways to Save on Self-Publishing Costs (Without Compromising Your Book)

Printing a novel or graphic novel can add up fast. But cutting corners shouldn’t mean cutting quality. If you’re strategic with your choices, you can produce something beautiful without blowing the budget. Here’s how:

1. Start with a Mini Run Instead of Going All-In

You don’t need to print 500 copies from the start. With Ex Why Zed, there’s no minimum, so you can print 10 or 20, see how they feel in your hands, test the market, and scale up once you’re confident.
→ Bonus: You can tweak the spec after your first run if you decide to make changes.

2. Choose Black & White Interiors (Even for Graphic Novels)

Full-colour printing looks fantastic, but it’s also one of the biggest cost drivers. Many graphic novelists start with greyscale interiors and a vibrant colour cover, still striking, but far more affordable.

3. Don’t Over-Spec Your Paper

Yes, 200gsm uncoated paper feels lush, but if your book is text-heavy, 100–120gsm is often more than enough.
At ExWhyZed, we’ll guide you through the right weight and finish for your project without pushing you toward the priciest option.

4. Stick to Standard Sizes

Custom trim sizes often mean more waste and higher costs. Formats like A5 and A4 are efficient, easy to ship, and still offer plenty of design flexibility.
→ Tip: A5 tends to be the sweet spot for indie novels and zines.

5. Keep Page Count Lean (But Purposeful)

Each page you add increases the cost, especially in colour. If you're on a budget, consider editing for brevity or trimming down extras like title pages, blank spreads, or appendices that don’t serve the story.

6. Reuse Your Book Files for Promotional Materials

If you’re planning to promote your book, don’t reinvent the wheel. Use the same artwork and fonts from your cover to print bookmarks, postcards, or flyers. ExWhyZed can batch these together in one order, saving on setup costs and delivery fees.

7. Ask for Advice Early

Seriously, one 10-minute email can save you hours (and hundreds of pounds). Our team at ExWhyZed can suggest smarter specs, catch file setup issues before they become expensive mistakes, and help you work toward your price-per-copy goal.

No pressure, no jargon.

Real Story, Real Print: How a Poetry Collective Turned Vision into Pages

When Gut Feeling Collective set out to publish An Ode to Works in Progress, they weren’t just printing a mass-market paperback. It was 172 pages of raw, reflective poetry that needed to feel as intentional in hand as it did on the page.

Built to Feel as Good as It Reads

Printed at A5 size with black ink on 115gsm silk pages and a 250gsm silk cover, matt-laminated for a soft, elegant finish, the book radiates quiet confidence.

No gloss. No gimmicks.

Just a monochromatic palette and perfect binding that lets the content take the spotlight, and lays flat for easy reading.

The Spine That Sparked a Conversation

Ella, leading the project, wanted the spine to match the cover, visually seamless, title included.

ExWhyZed worked closely to finesse the 9mm spine design, ensuring it aligned exactly with the collective’s vision. It’s the kind of detail most printers brush past. We didn’t.

Curveballs? We Catch Them

Late-stage change? No problem.

When the team needed a page reprint, we didn’t blink, just quoted, adjusted, and delivered. Even when the courier missed a drop, we stayed in the loop until books were in hand, launch-ready.

What You Can Learn from This Print Run

• Design around the content. Minimalism here wasn’t aesthetic—it was strategy.
• Don’t settle for cookie-cutter specs. Paper weight, spine layout, and lamination can elevate the entire experience.
• Pick a printer that treats your book like it’s their own. Because when last-minute changes come (and they always do), you want a partner, not a platform.

Feedback That Says It All

“Thank you for being so helpful and adaptable throughout. You really made the project feel taken care of.” — Ella, Gut Feeling Collective

You're ready. Here’s how to get your novel or graphic novel into print — no guesswork, no back-and-forth.

Conclusion

Whether you're printing poetry, fiction, or a full-color graphic novel, self-publishing gives you something traditional publishing often can’t control.

You choose the book cover, the format, and the finish. You decide whether to invest in developmental editing, hire a book designer, or handle layout yourself. And when it comes to promotion, you steer your own marketing strategy, from targeted social media posts to old-school word of mouth.

There are different types of success in book publishing. If yours starts with a great idea and a few boxes of books delivered to your door, we’re here to make that journey smoother, smarter, and creatively yours.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to self publish a novel with a professional editor?

The answer to "how much does it cost to publish a graphic novel" can range from £800–£2,500 depending on editing process depth, book cover design, and marketing costs. Hiring a professional editor improves sentence structure and increases your chances of success in the publishing industry.

Is self-publishing a comic book a good idea on a smaller budget?

Yes, with careful planning. The average answer to "how much does it cost to publish a novel" varies, but digital printing and streamlined interior design keep the publishing process affordable, especially if you only need a few copies of your book.

Do I need my own ISBN to publish a novel in the United States?

You can use a free ISBN or register your own ISBN in the United States. Either works, but having your own ISBN gives you full control over your book marketing and publisher listing.

What are the average costs for back cover design and internal pages?

The answer to "how much does it cost to make a graphic novel" internal pages and back cover design varies by type of book. Expect to pay £100–£300 unless bundled with a full book cover package. Always check for additional fees during the publishing process.

What’s the best way to balance quality and cost in self-publishing?

Start with the final product in mind. The best way to control actual cost is to focus spending on essentials like editing, front cover, and book marketing, then scale copies of your book as your audience grows.